People log into the game to have a break from real life, not to replicate it's issues. Did you even think before you wrote that sentence?
Even in single player games there are items only the real dedicated players can get. How many do you actually think got Knights of the round in FFVII?

Do the casuals of today feel so entitled to things, that they must be able to get every piece of gear in game? Those of us that knew we wouldn't get a relic in FFXI never complained about it.

On another thing. I read a bit about how FFXI has become, I noticed it was just after it has become "casual friendly" and a gear treadmill that item requirements for parties has shown up in the game. So people shouldn't really blame the "hardcore" crowd for that.